Department of Pharmacy Practice, Chapman University School of Pharmacy; Department of MMS Physician Assistant Studies, Chapman University Crean College of Health and Behavioral Sciences, Irvine, CA, USA; Providence St. Joseph Mission Hospital, Mission Viejo, CA, USA
Dr. Kimberly Won
Department of Pharmacy Practice, Chapman University School of Pharmacy; Department of MMS Physician Assistant Studies, Chapman University Crean College of Health and Behavioral Sciences, Irvine, CA, USA; Providence St. Joseph Mission Hospital, Mission Viejo, CA, USA
The aim of this paper is to review the roles that community pharmacists in the United States (US) can play to support public health measures during the current severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic (COVID-19). Community pharmacists in the US are highly visible and accessible to the public and have long been regarded as a source for immunization services as well as other public health activities. In the US, the scope of pharmacy practice continues to expand and incorporate various health services on a state-by-state level. For the purposes of this article, a PubMed literature search was undertaken to identify published articles on SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, pharmacist- and pharmacy-based immunization and other public health care activities in the US in order to identify and discuss roles that community pharmacists can play during this pandemic including as vaccinators, screeners and testers. In conclusion, community pharmacists are knowledgeable and capable providers of public health services and are easily accessible and well regarded by the public. The incorporation of community pharmacists into this nation’s COVID-19 pandemic response plan can help aid recovery efforts in the US.
1 August 2020 in The American Journal of Emergency Medicine
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has prompted the creation of new therapies to help fight against the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Bamlanivimab is a SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibody that is administered as an intravenous infusion to ambulatory patients with mild or moderate COVID-19, but a concern that arose was deciding the optimal location for patients to receive the medication. This report describes the development and implementation of a bamlanivimab infusion center in the emergency department of three hospitals in Orange County, California, shortly after bamlanivimab received emergency use authorization. As a result, a total of 601 patients received bamlanivimab in one of these three emergency departments between December 2020 to April 2021. The emergency department was shown to be an optimal setting for administration of bamlanivimab due to its convenience, accessibility, and capabilities for monitoring patients.
13 April 2023 in American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy
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